From idea to action. About projects with high school students from Gdańskie Liceum Autonomiczne

On 6 November 2026, students from Gdańskie Liceum Autonomiczne took part in a session on project work entitled “Projects – Your Path to Growth, Success and the Future”. 

The session was led by Dr Magdalena Markiewicz, Vice-Dean for Development and Cooperation with the Socio-Economic Environment at the University of Gdańsk’s Faculty of Economics, together with Dr Jarosław Kempa and Dr Maciej Krzemiński, both lecturers at the Faculty of Economics and GLA.

Drawing on their own experience, the speakers discussed the main stages of project work, from identifying a need and planning activities to assessing the results. The discussion covered how to tell whether an idea meets others' needs and how to build support for a proposal submitted through participatory budgeting. Students also asked what to do when a project is already underway and the plan needs to change or fails, and shared their experience in team building. The session showed how working on projects at school and university helps students develop teamwork, planning and problem-solving skills while contributing to their communities.

The speakers shared examples of successful projects funded through municipal and university participatory budgeting. Dr Jarosław Kempa drew on his experience in Sopot, where he served as a city councillor for many years. Dr Magdalena Markiewicz presented two initiatives she carried out with students through the University of Gdańsk’s participatory budgeting programme – the Economics Park and the coworking area between Lecture Halls A and B at the Faculty of Economics. Both projects showed how student initiatives can improve spaces that the Faculty community uses every day.

The session also touched on themes explored in the Faculty’s International Economic Relations degree programme. Dr Magdalena Markiewicz coordinates the International Finance and Banking and Global Financial Services specialisations, while Dr Maciej Krzemiński coordinates the Projects in International Business specialisation.

Kamil Chrzanowski, President of the Board of the Gdańsk Educational Foundation, closed the session by introducing the foundation’s Startownia GFO programme.

We are pleased to have supported Gdańskie Liceum Autonomiczne since 2023 in teaching “Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship” and, more recently, “Business and Management”.

We thank Gdańskie Liceum Autonomiczne, and in particular its Director, Ms. Monika Biblis, for inviting us to share our experience and the students for joining the discussion and asking questions.